NYPD Inspector General Plan Moves Forward, But Political Jockeying Continues

The intense jockeying around the proposed law to create an NYPD inspector general continues, even after New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn announced on Tuesday afternoon that she had reached a "broad agreement" with its sponsors. The inspector general would have oversight of controversial police practices like stop-and-frisk.

After Quinn's announcement, a spokesman for New York City Public Advocate -- and Quinn mayoral foe -- Bill de Blasio said his "line in the sand" from a press conference Tuesday morning still stood.

De Blasio had warned Tuesday morning that the inspector general must not be watered down to please law enforcement critics.

"We have seen this movie before -- assurances that reform is on the way, only to see the Council substitute a half-measure for true change. This time must be different," he said.

The bill's actual sponsors, meanwhile, seem encouraged by their progress thus far.

"Good progress has been made on the NYPD inspector general bill, and we are confident that a broad package of meaningful reforms that protect New Yorkers from discriminatory policing will ultimately be passsed by this City Council," Councilmembers Jumaane Williams and Brad Lander said in a joint statement issued after Quinn's announcement.